Agenda Item # 9
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
October 13, 2015
Agenda Report # 41
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2015 Homeland Security Grant Program
INITIATED BY: Columbus Fire and EMS Department
Recommendation: Approval is requested to accept a grant of $40,000, or as
otherwise awarded, from the 2015 Homeland Security Grant Program and amend the
Multi-Governmental Fund by like amount.
Background: Funds have been allocated to the 2015 Homeland Security Grant
Program for the maintenance of equipment received as part of the West Central
Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR) Team. This team was formed to improve
responses to heavy rescue emergencies to the citizens of Columbus and
surrounding counties. Heavy search-and-rescue involves the location, rescue
(extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined
spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of victims being trapped,
but victims may also be trapped in transportation accidents, mines and
collapsed trenches.
Currently in the state of Georgia, there are 5 GSAR Teams. They are located at:
? Georgia SAR Coastal - Glynn County and City of Savannah
? Georgia SAR Central - Macon/Bibb County and Houston County
? Georgia SAR Metro - Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Clayton Counties, and
City of Atlanta
? Tifton SAR South
? Columbus SAR West Central Georgia
The GSAR teams will be able to respond to incidents across the state under
mutual aid, but the local jurisdictions will own the vehicles and equipment.
The goal of the GSAR teams is to have a four-hour response capability anywhere
in the state.
Analysis: The state is providing the funds for the maintenance of equipment
already received from the state.
Financial Considerations: The Georgia Emergency Management Agency will purchase
equipment on behalf of Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Service.
Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible to
receive these funds.
Recommendation/Action: Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant of $40,000
from the 2015 Homeland Security Grant Program.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT A GRANT OF $40,000 OR AS
OTHERWISE AWARDED, FROM THE 2015 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM AND IF NEEDED,
AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY LIKE AMOUNT. THESE FUNDS WILL BE UTILIZED
FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT RECEIVED AS PART OF THE WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA
SEARCH AND RESCUE (GSAR) TEAM. THIS TEAM WAS FORMED TO IMPROVE RESPONSES TO
HEAVY RESCUE EMERGENCIES TO THE CITIZENS OF COLUMBUS AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
HEAVY SEARCH-AND-RESCUE INVOLVES THE LOCATION, RESCUE (EXTRICATION), AND
INITIAL MEDICAL STABILIZATION OF VICTIMS TRAPPED IN CONFINED SPACES.
STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE IS MOST OFTEN THE CAUSE OF VICTIMS BEING TRAPPED, BUT
VICTIMS MAY ALSO BE TRAPPED IN TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENTS, MINES AND COLLAPSED
TRENCHES.
WHEREAS, the Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services has been approved by
the Governor's office to fund the GSAR team; and,
WHEREAS, the maintenance of equipment requested in the grant proposal will
greatly enhance the current emergency response program; and,
WHEREAS, the funds have been allocated through the 2015 Homeland Security Grant
Program; and,
WHEREAS, the equipment will be utilized to respond to heavy rescue emergencies
to Columbus and the surrounding counties; and,
WHEREAS, this grant proposal requires no matching funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:
1) That the City Manager is hereby authorized to accept a Homeland Security
Grant of $40,000 from the 2015 Homeland Security Grant Program.
2) The Georgia Emergency Management Agency will purchase equipment on behalf of
Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Service.
_________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held the
_______ day of ___________, 2015 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative
vote of _______ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Buck voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
______________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
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